Pillow design to aid proper sleeping position which avoids facial wrinkle development

ABSTRACT

A sleeping or resting device designed to prevent improper sleeping and/or resting that leads to the damage of facial tissues, wrinkles and premature aging. The pillow&#39;s design adjusts the sleeper&#39;s body position to prevent the face from supporting the weight of the sleeper&#39;s head by supporting the user&#39;s head primarily behind the temple. The novel design prevents wrinkling of the face that occurs during the sleeping process caused by a traditional pillow. The novel design can be generally described as an elongated foam box, having an upper concavity, an integrated coaxial cylindrical member at the leading edge, with laterally tapering triangular ends of various design.

FIELD OF INVENTION/INTRODUCTION

[0001] This field of invention relates to various pillows designed to reduce damage to the tissues of the face within the dermis and underling layers, thus reducing the appearance of wrinkles and aging of the skin of the neck and facial regions. Inappropriate and consistent sleep patterns can cause damage to the dermis, endodermis, adipose tissues and collagen over a lifetime of improper sleeping with a conventional pillow. This invention corrects the position of the sleeper to prevent the user from damaging these tissues.

[0002] The instant invention is designed to encourage the user to sleep in a supine, left or right lateral incumbent position and to discourage a prone sleep position. A prone position leads to the sleeper damaging his/her facial and neck tissues, especially when using a conventional pillow.

[0003] While sleeping in a laterally recumbent position with the invention, the user is encouraged to rest his/her head posteriorly of the temple. In this position, the user is encouraged by the technologically advanced design of the invention not to sleep on the face, hence avoiding the production of tissue damage to the face.

[0004] Whatever position the sleeper tries to obtain while sleeping, the instant invention causes natural unpracticed adjustments to the user's resting position. Its technologically advanced design accounts for the human form and its needs for protection from antiquated, underdeveloped pillow designs that do not take into account the needs of a modern, beauty-conscious society. Square stuffed pillows of conventional filling, that have no design at all other than cushioning the head in the facial area, are a threat to the appearance of the user.

BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART

[0005] Many other pillows have been designed to reduce the aging process and to encourage the user to sleep in a specific position, yet they are all limited in their claimed abilities. Other designs support the sleeper's head incorrectly and promote sleeping on various regions of the face and neck. Sleeping on one's face accelerates the wrinkling and the aging process. Incorrect support of the sleeper's head also leads to stiff muscles, loss of sleep, and improper spine alignment. Many prior art pillows are also limited in their ability to reduce the aging process by supporting the user in an incorrect fashion on his/her ocular, zygomatic (cheek), temple and mandible regions.

[0006] Other retroactive methods of avoiding the aging process include plastic surgery, face lifts, face creams, oils, lotions, retin-a, and other “beauty” products. Some of these methods actually accelerate the aging process. Plastic surgery is costly and will incapacitate the recipient for some time. Surgery exposes the patient to other risks such as permanent scaring and infection. All of these methods can be avoided with the use of the instant invention. None of these methods are proactive in their treatment of the problem at hand. They address the problem of wrinkling, skin folds and premature aging after the problem has occurred in a costly manner.

[0007] The prior art pillows are manufactured of an inappropriate material, support the user incorrectly, allow the user to sleep on his/her face, deform/flatten after little use, collect mold and allergens and advance the aging process by damaging facial and neck tissues. These characteristics leave much to be desired.

[0008] Prior art devices fail to incorporate modem technology in the design or manufacturing processes such as CAM (computer assisted manufacturing) or CAD. The prior art is also lacking in its use of medical scan equipment, thus not allowing the designer to clearly understand the proper alignment of the body, thus neither accommodating for proper body alignment, nor protecting the cervical or anatomical alignment of the user. These faults in the prior art lead to improper sleep patterns and other medical and health problems that become time consuming and monetarily costly to the user.

Objects and Advantages

[0009] One cannot sleep on one's face without damaging the facial tissues. The instant invention solves the prior art limitations by supporting the user's head without contributing to the aging process of the face, or damaging the epidermis and endodermis of the face.

[0010] The novel design provides support for the user's head, neck and face by positioning the user's head such that the side and back of the head are comfortably supported while the face is protected from adverse contact with the pillow. Avoidance of pillow contact with the face inhibits premature aging and wrinkling of the tissues of the face. The avoidance of contact between the user's face and pillow is the spirit of this invention.

[0011] The instant invention also allows for:

[0012] a) Numerous sleeping positions required for restful sleep.

[0013] b) Proper support of the head while avoiding adverse facial contact that is common with prior art pillows. The prior art pillow forces the face into folds that cause wrinkles. A novel form, shape and texture of the instant invention changes the pressure points upon which the head rests when the user is sleeping.

[0014] c) Anatomically correct support of the head and neck which suppress cervical deviations and mastication and promote correct posture.

[0015] d) Support of the head at positions behind the face, at the back and side of the head, laterally of the face, which avoid the promotion of facial folds and wrinkles.

[0016] e) Prevention of premature aging and wrinkling of the dermis of the face. The instant invention stops wrinkles before they start.

[0017] f) Sleepers with allergies can avoid the annoying causes of allergies (allergens) which build up rapidly in traditional pillows (artificial down, synthetic fibers, feathers and fillers). The instant invention is constructed of a hypoallergenic foam and other choice materials.

[0018] g) Improved facial circulation, thus avoiding premature aging of the facial skin and underlying tissues

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1-20

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the primary embodiment of the invention

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the primary embodiment of the invention in use

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the primary embodiment

[0022] FIG. 4 is a top view of the primary embodiment

[0023] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the primary embodiment

[0024] FIG. 6 is a front view of the primary embodiment

[0025] FIG. 7 is a view of the concavity upon the upper main surface

[0026] FIG. 8 is a view of a larger concavity upon the upper main surface

[0027] FIG. 9 is a view of a convexity upon the upper main surface

[0028] FIG. 10 is a view of larger convexity upon the upper main surface

[0029] FIG. 11 is a view of a first pentahedral end section

[0030] FIG. 12 is a view of a second pentahedral end section

[0031] FIG. 13 view of a third pentahedral end section

[0032] FIG. 14 view of a fourth pentahedral end section

[0033] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention

[0034] FIG. 16 is a view of the frontal recess

[0035] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention

[0036] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the invention

[0037] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the invention

SUMMARY/DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The instant invention is focused toward providing an improved sleeping device that avoids the creation of wrinkles and premature aging, by supporting the user's head in a novel fashion. This is accomplished by a design which discourages sleeping on the face. This novel design also provides proper support of the user's head by encouraging the user not to sleep on his/her face.

[0039] According to the spirit of the invention the sleeping device is shaped with a main rectangular box like section, having triangular tapering end sections, a central concavity upon the uppermost surface of the main section and an integrated cylindrical portion proximal to an upper major edge of the upper-most surface.

[0040] Formed of rectangular parallelepiped or a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, the main section (11) of the sleeping device has a vertical main front side (12), a vertical main rear surface (13), a main lower surface (14) and a main upper surface (15). The main section is integral with one or two laterally situated triangular or pentahedral-like end sections (16, 17), each with a lower surface that is coplanar with the main lower surface (14). The main section can also be described as having a major axis, which is parallel with the length of the main section and a minor axis, which is parallel with the width of the main section.

[0041] The surfaces of the main section, namely the front side (12) and the rear side (13) may be plainer, normal to the lower surface (14) or exhibit a slight upward tapering characteristic so that the upper surface (15) width is narrower than the lower surface (14) width. Each of these surfaces may also exhibit a slight convexity or concavity having a radius of curvature for a nominal sized sleeping device.

[0042] A radius of curvature may be introduced into the main section along the major axis, thus creating an arcuate like main section (11) which creates a sleeping device in a “C” shape. This design will accommodate users with special needs, such as those who sleep in a fetal position and will accommodate those with special medical needs such as the mentally and physically challenged. An embodiment with this feature may be seen in Figure x.

[0043] A frontal recess may also be incorporated into the front main vertical section to allow for proper support of the user's head by allowing an increased proximity of the user's body with the center of invention.

[0044] An integral cylindrical member, heretofore known as a cervical support member (18), may also be incorporated into the design of the main section. The cervical support member may be located at an upper front major edge (19) of the main section (11) with a radius of curvature. The design of the sleeping device may also incorporate an additional cylindrical support member (20) located at the upper rear major edge (21) having a similar, smaller or larger radius of curvature. The cervical support member and the cylindrical support member are also used to facilitate the creation of the convexity (30) of the main upper surface.

[0045] The main upper surface may exhibit a convexity (30) having a major cord length from zero to the full height of the sleeping device to aid in proper and correct support of the user's neck and head. The convexity may be described as a spherical section, a section of an oblique spheroid, or a section of an elliptical spheroid. The main upper surface (15) may also be textured with a plurality of ribs undulating along the major axis, or along the minor axis or along any diagonal there between. Other textures can also be used that are well known in the art of sleeping devices and foam manufacturing, such as an egg crate or the corrugated pattern.

[0046] It is the concavity which aids the user of the device to balance one's head on the edge of the upper main surface, thus allowing the user's face to avoid contact with the end section. This practice avoids facial contact with the device and arrests the development of facial tissue damage due to improper sleeping positions.

[0047] The main upper surface may exhibit a concavity (31) having a major cord length from zero to the full height of the sleeping device to aid in proper and correct support of the user's neck and head. This design is intended for those users who have difficulty in maintaining a correct sleeping position.

[0048] Capped at either end, the main section ends have two integral pentahedral sections (41, 42) (triangular or tetrahedral-like sections) each having a substantially triangular lower surface (51, 52) coplanar with the main lower surface (14) of the main section. The pentaherdal sections (41, 42) may share other planes with the planes of the main section, such as the main vertical front (12) and main vertical rear sides (13) in an ipsilateral or bilateral fashion.

[0049] The exposed surfaces of the pentahedral sections have each a front vertical surface (45, 44) a rear vertical surface (47, 46) and an upper facing surface (48, 49). These surfaces may be planar or exhibit a concavity or a convexity to facilitate the proper positioning and support of the user's head and to accommodate for the user's body shape.

[0050] Normally a slight convexity may be exhibited by the upper facing surfaces of the pentahedral sections, so as to aide in support of the minor lateral edges of the main section that are normally in contact with the user's head, but not in contact with the user's face. It is this slight convexity that helps the user of the sleeping device to avoid sleeping on his/her face, which is the cause of facial tissue damage.

[0051] Pentahedral sections may terminate in a sharp point where the upper facing surfaces merge. The sections may also terminate in a more rounded shape such as a hemisphere with a small or a relatively large radius of curvature that emanates from within the pentahedral section.

[0052] In another embodiment one of the end sections may be removed from the design creating a sleeping device for someone who sleeps only on one side of their body such as an invalid, comatose or the physically challenged.

[0053] The width of the upper plane shall have a range between the cervical supports that allows the head room to support itself on the upper plane free of contact with the secondary cervical support.

[0054] Foam is the most logical choice of material for use in the instant invention due to is versatility in the manufacturing process and its broad array of characteristics. Most notably, foam is selected for its quality and critical performance characteristics. These characteristics include density, air flow, IFD (indention force deflection), support factor, resiliency, dynamic and static flex fatigue rating, tensile strength, tear resistance, elasticity and elongation. Other well known characteristics in the art are used in the selection process of specific materials.

[0055] Single or hybrid foams may also be used in the construction process. For example, the main section and pentahedral sections may be formed of foam having a lower density than the foam used for the cervical support member. Also, foam with a greater air-flow may be used for the main section and the cervical support member(s) in contrast to the foam used for the pentahedral sections. Some designs of the instant invention call for a sleeping device having a sheath of a slightly greater dynamic flex fatigue rating than that of the core of the sleeping device.

[0056] Foams for the construction of the invention may be chosen from conventional foams, hypoallergenic foams, standard foams from super-soft to very firm having varying densities from light to heavy, porosities from small to large. In the United States, California has imposed stricter guidelines than most other states on manufacture of foam and foam products, such as those found in Technical Bulletin 117 that require foam manufactures to conform to increasingly environmentally friendly practices. EnduroFoam™ is known in the industry as an economical, high-resilience-type foam specifically formulated for superior cushioning with value in mind. It also complies with CA Technical Bulletin 117. Fire retardant foams such as the high performance foam Code*Red II® Foam can be used for the British and California markets which may need to comply with California 133 specifications or the like. High resilience foams, filled foams, polyester foams, anti-static foams and closed celled foam are also good choices for material. The choice of a colored foam may aide in the aesthetic pleasantries of sleeping devices. All the aforementioned foams as well as other foams well known in the industry and to those skilled in the art may also be used singly or in combination with each other to produce the instant invention.

[0057] Typical dimensions of the invention are substantially:

[0058] Overall length of main section and pentahedral sections: 12 inches to 24 inches.

[0059] Overall width of main section: 11 inches to 16 inches.

[0060] Width of main upper surface of main section: 10 inches to 14 inches.

[0061] Width of main lower surface of main section: 11 inches to 16 inches.

[0062] Depth of central concavity: ¼ inch to ½ inch

[0063] Height of main section at lowest point of central concavity: 2 inches to 4½ inches

[0064] Height of main section at apex of cervical support member: 2 inches to 5 inches.

[0065] Radius of curvature of front cervical support member: ½ inch to 8 inches.

[0066] Radius of curvature of rear cylindrical support member: ½ inch to 8 inches.

[0067] Angle of taper of front main vertical plane with respect to the vertical plane: 0 degrees to 38.7 degrees.

[0068] Angle of taper of rear main vertical plane with respect to the vertical plane: 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

[0069] Length of pentahedral section: 2 inches to 6 inches.

[0070] Radius of curvature of upper surface of pentahedral section: ½ inch to 4 feet.

[0071] The above described dimensions of the invention are used to aid the reader in his/her understanding of the invention and to lend a sense of dimension to the description of the design and to lend understand to the physicality and principles involved with the invention and its manufacture.

[0072] For many of the drawing figures of the instant invention the comers and intersections of various planes are shown with sharp edge. For ease of manufacturing these edges may be softened with a relatively small radius of curvature so as to create a more aesthetically pleasing device, a more supportive device, a less costly device and a more comfortable device with out deviating from he desired functionality and scope of the invention.

[0073] Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it is of course to be understood that various changes, modifications, and omissions in form, size and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims: 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pillow comprising: a substantially rectangular main section having a main upper surface, a main lower surface, a vertical main front surface, a vertical main rear surface, at least one laterally situated substantially tetrahedral end section, having a lower surface coplanar with the main lower surface, being situated at an end of the main section.
 2. The pillow according to claim 1, wherein the main section has at least one integral cervical support member being colinear with the main section, having a radius of curvature that is centered within the main section, the cervical support member being located proximal to the intersection of the main front surface and the main upper surface, the additional cervical support member being located proximal to the intersection of the main rear surface and the main upper surface, and a concavity located on the main upper surface.
 3. The pillow according to claim 2, wherein the tetrahedral end sections each have a front vertical surface, a rear vertical surface and an upper facing surface, wherein each surface may be faced with a concavity of varying radii of curvature.
 4. The pillow according to claim 3, wherein the pillow is constructed of a compressible and resilient material.
 5. The pillow according to claim 3, wherein the intersecting surfaces of the main and tetrahederal sections incorporate a radius of curvature that avoids the creation of a sharp edge between neighboring surfaces.
 6. A pillow comprising: a substantially rectangular main section having a main upper surface, a main lower surface, a vertical main front surface, a vertical main rear surface, at least one laterally situated substantially tetrahedral end section, having a lower surface coplanar with the main lower surface, being situated at an end of the main section, the main section exhibiting a slight radius of curvature along its entire length.
 7. The pillow according to claim 6, wherein the main section has at least one integral cervical support member being colinear with the main section, having a radius of curvature that is centered within the main section, the cervical support member being located proximal to the intersection of the main front surface and the main upper surface, the additional cervical support member being located proximal to the intersection of the main rear surface and the main upper surface, and a concavity located on the main upper surface.
 8. The pillow according to claim 7, wherein the tetrahedral end sections each have a front vertical surface, a rear vertical surface and an upper facing surface, wherein each surface may be faced with a concavity of varying radii of curvature.
 9. The pillow according to claim 8, wherein the pillow is constructed of a compressible and resilient material.
 10. The pillow according to claim 8, wherein the intersecting surfaces of the main and tetrahedral sections incorporate a radius of curvature that avoids the creation of a sharp edge between neighboring surfaces.
 11. A pillow comprising: a substantially rectangular main section having a main upper surface, a main lower surface, a vertical main front surface, a vertical main rear surface, at least one laterally situated substantially tetrahedral end section, having a lower surface coplanar with the main lower surface, being situated at an end of the main section.
 12. The pillow according to claim 11, wherein the main section having at least one integral cervical support member being colinear with the main section, having a radius of curvature that is centered within the main section, the cervical support member being located proximal to the intersection of the main front surface and the main upper surface, the additional cervical support member being located proximal to the intersection of the main rear surface and the main upper surface, and a concavity located on the main upper surface.
 13. The pillow according to claim 12, wherein the tetrahedral end sections each have a front vertical surface, a rear vertical surface and an upper facing surface, wherein the front vertical surfaces and rear vertical surfaces may be faced with a convexity of varying radii of curvature, and a concavity with a radius of curvature facing the upper facing surface.
 14. The pillow according to claim 13, wherein the pillow is constructed of a compressible and resilient material.
 15. The pillow according to claim 13, wherein the intersecting surfaces of the main and pentahederal sections incorporate a radius of curvature that avoids the creation of a sharp edge between neighboring surfaces. 